Thread: Winchester Model 1894

Originally Posted by 7.62

I had an 1894 in .44mag for a while, here’s a few pros and cons to consider:

Pros
-they have nice handling, are well balanced and shoulder well. Probably the best rifle you can get for quick offhand shooting
-they have a great half cock when the hammer is set at the half way position. A quick thumb movement and you’re on full cock and ready to go
-capable of rapid follow up shots
-the slim lines mean they don’t get caught up in tight bush
-I’m a fan of the earlier models and dislike the later versions with crossbolt safeties, angle eject, and scope mounting options. If ever there was a rifle that should be used with open sights, it’s a winchester 94

Cons
-modern light weight bolt action carbines give them a run for their money. I have 308 in the safe. It’s got all sorts of light weight fuckery going on. Carbon stock, fluted barrel, compact scope, short duralium suppressor, and made of highly corrosion resistant materials. Good in the bush, but also capable of shots in excess of 300yd. A versatile rifle. I like bush hunting but at some point during a hunt I normally find myself in open country. Tussock river flats, broken scrub, and open tops. Country where your classic open sight lever action gets a bit out of it’s depth. The harsh reality was that the 94 didn’t really suit the sort of hunting I do, and 12 months later it was in someone else’s safe...

Would the end result have been different if it had been in 30-30?. That soft tip ammo increases usable range by a lot. Still no scope though on a top eject. I guess what I am asking is putting aside views of scopes on leverguns would a 30-30 AE model with a scope on it do 90%+ what you do with your 308?